Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-18
A GALA DAY AT srRATFORD.
Impressive Ceremonies at the Dedica.
ton Of the ChiIds Fountain.

FRATERNITY.
Yesterday was one OF the most noteworthy days
IN the history OF Avon and the dedi
catory ceremonies OF the Childs fountain passed Cd
| in a most satisfactory manner. The day was KEEP,
! as general holiday by the towns people, and
| among the numerous distinguished visitors from
| outside were United states Minister Phelps Henry
Irving, and Sir Theodore Martin. At noon the Wis.
| ttors assembled at the town hail. whence the
| mayor and the members OF the corporation attired
In their Official robes marched IN procession TO the
site OF the memorial Here there had long been
assembled large throng OF townsfolk and
Strangers who admired the graceful proportions
OF the fine structure which now associates the
name OF Mr. Childs with the history OF Stre ford
errsd f mayor IN Spenng sne proceed
Jas Russell Lowell, and read a letter from that
gentleman. In this Mr.. Lowell said:
LowEIL's WITTY AND BEAUTIFUL LETTER.
81 should more deeply regret my inability to be
present at the interesting ceremonial OF the 18th
were IL not that my countrymen will be more 1tly
and adequately represented there by their accom-
plisned minister, Mr.. Phelps The occasion is GER
which you accept to-day il, behalf OF your towns.
men commentaries at once the most marvellous
OF Englishmen and the jubilee year Of the august
guage Is spoken OF which he was the greatest
master. No symbol could more aprly serve this
double purpose than fountain, for surely no poet
whether he was the author Of the '.NOvum Organ
UNI also or not. Nor could the purity of her char
current that shall flow forever from the sources
opened here to-day. tCheersl IL was Washing
ton Irving who first embodied In his delightful
awakes In the heart OF the pilgrim, and especially
OF the American pilgrim who visited It. l am
glad 10 think that this memorial should be the
g1ft OF an American, and thus serve TO recall the
kindred blood OF the two great nations Joint heirs
OF the same noble language, and OF the genius
m a ssrnnf q fryySt apa
II am glad OF ir because Il Is one OF the multiply
ing signs that those two nations are beginning to
think more and more Of the things In which they
syInpathize and less and less OF those in which
they differ. lCheers.l common Languages not,
Indeed the surest bond OF aInity for this enables
each country TO understand whatever unpleasant
things the other may chance to say about It. ASH
am on OF those who believe That an honest friend
ship between England and America is most de-
sirabie thing, trust that We shall on both sides
think it equally desirable in our Intercourse one
with another, TO make our mother tongue search
her Golfer round for the polished rather than the
sharp cornered epithets she has stored there. Let
Us Dy all means speak the truth TO each other for
there is no one else who can speak IL to either OF
us with such a fraternal instinct for the weak
point OF the other; but let US do IL In such wise
70 show that IL Is the truth we love and not the
discomfort we can infct by means OF it. (Cries of
"HearG "Hear!1 Let Us say agreeable thingSto
each other and OF each other whenever we consci-
entiously can. My friend, Mr.. Childs, has said
one OF these agreeable things In very solid and
durable way. common literature and a common
respect for certain qualities OF character and ways
OF thinking supply a neutral ground, where we
may meet In the assurance that we shall find
something amiable In each other, and from being
less than kind become more than kin. tCheers.l
"In old maps the line which outlined British
possessions in America included the greater part
or what Is now territory OF the United states. The
possessions OF the American In England are laid
and Imagination by title such as no conquest
ever established and no revolution can ever over
throw The dust that Is sacred to you is sacred to
him The annals which Shakespeare makes walk
before US In flesh and blood are his no less than
yours. These are the ties which We recognize and
are glad 10 recogn on occasions like this. They
will be yearly drawn closer as science goes on with
her work OF abolishing time and space, and thus
render more easy that peaceful commerce 'twtxt
whatever is exclusive In nationality or savors Of
barbarism in patriotism"
tic cheers A letter from the poet Whittier to Mr.
ChldS was also read IN which he said that the girt
during the present year was happy thought as
connected with the queens jubilee, and would go
far toward atoning for foolish utterances about
England coming from some American citizens. The
mayor, In his address paid glowing tribute to
POEM BY OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
Henry Irving's appearance was greeted with
loud cheering He read with fine effect the follow
ing poem by Oliver Wendell Holmes:
Welcome, thrice welcome is thy silvery CLEAN.
Welcome the tinkie OF thy crystal beads
As FLASHING rain drops to the howery meads
From rock walled channels drowned in rayiess night,
Leap forth to life and light:
And greet with answering smile the mornings beam!
No purer lymph the white-limbed Naiad knows
M, III Than an, from Thy cha a. flows:
starry With washed from aoas sn0 ores
Nor CLASSY stream Blandusia's fountain pours'
Braids her loose flowing hair,
Mr. see es sf current sssnsss as #
Here shall the traveller stay his weary feet
10 seek thy calm retreat:
Herr HERE sh n.
Call the mute bird to his iesfy nest. VIC "e'"
Matron and maid shall chat the cares away
That brooded DER the day,
While hoeking round them troops Of children meet,
And all the arches ring with laughter sweet
Here sh.l The s.eed: his patient life who spends
- In Toll that never ends,
Hot from bis thirsty tramp Der hill and plain,
Plunge his red nostrils, while the torturing rein
Nor the poor brute that shares his master 5 lot
- lind s his small needs forgot.
Whose presence cheers whose guardian care defends
Here lark and thrush and nightingale shall sin.
And skimming swallows dip,
Frszrnt from bowers that lent their sSeet
N Mnere Pss ms rose or Persia's lilac blooms:
here ro ts ,s HISad 1ae eagle stoop to drink
And whet his beak AGAINST its rounded lip
HIS glossy feathers slistenins they drip
Here shall the dreaming poet linRer long.
Far from his listening throng-
f Nor lutte nor iyre his trembling hand shall bring;
No falterins minstr rel strain his throat to sinas
These hailo.ed echoes who shall dare TO claim
,,- whose tuneless voice would shame,
Whose iAngline chords with Earring notes would wrong
ne nymphs that heard the Swan Of Avon's songi
What visions srsst the pilgrims raptured eyes,
Inc dead rsturn,-they breathe,-they live again,
Fresh from the springs Of shakespesres quickenins
brani s"e-Se
The s Hss that :lakes the souls divner thirst
nc nc VIII hls Tame not less shall memory prize
ihe gracious gift that humber wants supplied
Ger the wide waters reached the hand that esye
,,., TO All this bounteous wave.
Blest be the generous pledge Of FRI endship brought
a 6S 1ns lar home 81 brothers love, unbought
With stored shrnes Of old wv e"ioiieo
tasIiAs .pr1ns, Exerlas dewy cave,
And Horeb's rock the God Of Israel ciayei
Land Of our Fathers. ocean makes ms tvo
But heart 70 heart is true!
Proud Is your towering daughter in the Wesf
Yet in her burning Ii blood reign contest
Her mothers pulses beating In her brezst
Its srsci9ns drops shall ir iend Heaven descend
Both foreheads batsed in that baptisnal dew
Ana love make ~, one the old home and the new.
HENRY IRvNG's SPEECH
In his speech Mr.. Irving said after aI,ud,nu In
the presence OF Minister Phelps: .Rut n would 40
in less tnah Justice 10 Mr.. Phelps TO affirm mat
ne Is WIN Us In formal and diplomatic sense ON
TINS spot OF all others Americans cease m he
mems ior mere they claim our kinship with the
great master OF English speech The stmn,est
records OF Stratord show that this Is the Mecca Of
american pilgrims and that the place which gave
pnlh 70 Shakespeare II regarded as the fountain
vi ne Inigntiest and most enduring Inspiration OF
our mother tongue. IL Is not dirfcult 10 believe
that amongst the visitors who write those tmnos
ing letters, u. y A., In the visitors book in the
hlslorc nous hard by, there are some whose COL